Assam

Tezpur University agitation

Tezpur (sonitpur), december 30. Tezpur University Teachers’ Association, Tezpur University Non-Teaching Employees’ Association and university students staged a 24-hour hunger-strike, marking 100 days of protest against “irregularities” involving Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh.

Addressing a press conference, a Tezpur University United Forum (TUUF) spokesperson said: “Despite 100 consecutive days of peaceful protests, memoranda and appeals, authorities have not provided any concrete assurance regarding action against the VC. His prolonged absence and continued inaction by authorities have led to administrative paralysis and erosion of public confidence in this institution.”

The Vice Chancellor has been absent from the campus since September 22, following heated exchanges with students. Since the protests began, 11 faculty and senior officials have resigned their office.

 Gujarat

Project Antariksh Prayogshala

Bopal (ahmedabad), december 22. The  Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (INSPACe) intends to set up ‘Antariksh Prayogshala,’  an initiative to establish state-of-the-art space laboratories in seven selected Indian higher education institutions countrywide, to provide hands-on training and exposure to students enrolled in space technology study programs.

Higher ed institutions which are at least five years old, have an NIRF ranking under 200, and offer a course in space technology will be eligible to apply for space labs. INSPACe will provide financial support of up to 75 percent of the total project cost, with a cap of Rs.5 crore per institution to be released on a milestone-linked basis, said Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate, INSPACe, addressing a press conference, 

Annual revenue of India’s space economy, currently at $8 billion (Rs.72,148 crore) is expected to rise to $44 billion by 2033, and will require trained manpower to fuel this growth, he added.

Uttar Pradesh

Historic philanthropy

Kanpur, december 29. During a silver jubilee reunion held on campus in a landmark milestone for alumni philanthropy, Class of 2000 of the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) has pledged Rs.100 crore to its alma mater.

According to an official press communique issued by IIT-K, this is the highest-ever alumni pledge by a single batch across all academic institutions in the country, marking a historic landmark in alumni philanthropy.

Describing the pledge as “powerful affirmation” of the “enduring bond” between the institute and its alumni, IIT-K Director Manindra Agrawal said: “This extraordinary contribution of Rs.100 crore will strengthen our academic and research ecosystem and will inspire future generations to give back to institutions that shaped them.”

Speaking on behalf of the batch, Naveen Tewari, a distinguished alumnus of Class of 2000, said: “IIT-K gave us the courage to think big, question assumptions and build with purpose. This pledge is our way of ensuring that future generations receive equal or greater opportunities.”

Kerala

Rocket Basilian-01

Peermade (idukki), december 17. In a first-of-its-type initiative, engineering students of the Mar Baselios Christian College of Engineering and Technology launched (December 18) an indigenous technology demonstrator rocket from the college campus in Idukki district.

Named Basilian-01, the rocket has been designed, fabricated and tested by undergraduate students of the institution under the guidance of Dr. Oommen Tharakan, a former Indian Space Research Organisation scientist and the college’s dean of research and development.

The project covers propulsion, guidance and control, structural and avionics systems, and payload deployment.

College authorities say the launch will support studies on aerosols related to spice cultivation and analysis of atmospheric temperature in the Kuttikkanam region. A ground station developed by students will handle mission control and data collection.

Maharashtra

Positive discipline directive

Mumbai, december 5. School education minister Dadaji Bhuse directed the school education department to organise a seminar on positive discipline in education institutions across Maharashtra. The order was issued after several cases of corporal punishment inflicted on students were reported.

The order states that all schools statewide must host at least one seminar per year on ‘positive discipline’ in the context of provisions of the RTE Act, 2009 to highlight responsibilities of teachers, acceptable forms of punishment, consequences of punishment, and its adverse effect on students.

The ideas of various educational thinkers on the principles and infliction of punishment, classroom management based on communication, cooperation and counselling should be heeded, the order said.